Peter Crouch: We can be champions of Europe

Peter Crouch was only able to play after a pain-killing injection in his back

And he was backed up by keeper Heurelho Gomes, who said the north Londoners were capable of going further than his former club PSV, who reached the semi-finals in 2005.

They lost that year on the away goals rule to AC Milan, the team Harry Redknapp’s Spurs humbled in the San Siro on Tuesday, winning through Crouch’s solitary goal in the 80th minute.

Redknapp’s men beat the seven-times European Cup winners, despite starting without two of their key players Gareth Bale, the hat-trick hero in the 4-3 defeat by Inter Milan at the San Siro in October, and Luka Modric.

“Gareth and Modric are top, top players and if we can come to the San Siro and win without them, then there’s probably no limit to what we can achieve,” said Crouch, who took his European goal tally to seven in eight games.

“Although it’s our first time in the tournament, I don’t think we have anyone to fear. We’ve had a great comeback here last time against Inter, and we beat Inter at home.

“Now we have come away from home – which was a fantastic test for us and won in Milan, hopefully people will start believing that we can do something in this competition.”

Describing his goal, which was set up by winger Aaron Lennon’s 70-yard dash, Crouch added: “It’s not every day you score in the San Siro and win the game, so I’m delighted.

“I owe a great deal to Aaron. It’s just a case of keeping up with him to be honest, he’s so quick!

“If you keep up with him, you’ve got a chance because he’s an unselfish player. He beat two men and squared it, and to see it go in the back of the net was really pleasing.”

Crouch, who only played after a pain-killing injection in his back, insisted he and his team-mates were not taking anything for granted.

Champions League history shows only one team, Panathinaikos, have won away from home and then not gone through in the knockout stages.

The England striker added: “It’s not over because Milan are a great side. With their forwards, I think they can go anywhere and score goals.

“But we’ve put ourselves in such a good position now that we’d be very disappointed if we didn’t go through. I think it will be an open game at The Lane (on March 9). We’ll attack.

“I don’t think we will go and defend our lead because that’s not our style.”

Brazilian keeper Gomes made two superb second- half saves to ensure Spurs came away with the victory.

It was a far cry from his previous performance in the San Siro in October, when he was sent off after eight minutes, then had to watch his team go 4-0 down inside 35 minutes.

He said: “I could not have asked more for myself. It was good for me, but I am so happy for the club, it is great for them.”

Gomes also revealed he had been to look at Wembley, where the Champions League final will be played on May 28.

“Now we can go much better than PSV,” he said.

“We have a better squad than they had. Maybe now we are unstoppable.

“The English game is so different, this made it difficult for Milan.

“We pressed them and we closed them down and it makes it tough. They like the space and the time to play. We did not give them either.

“Milan became more frustrated as the game went on and that could explain how they reacted.”